- American Orthodox Archbishop Alexei met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Anchorage, Alaska, following a summit between Putin and Donald Trump.
- The encounter, which involved an exchange of holy icons, drew significant criticism from other church leaders, including the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the USA, who deemed it a 'betrayal'.
- Archbishop Alexei subsequently issued an apology, stating he accepted full responsibility for the 'confusion and pain' his actions caused.
- Leaders of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the USA condemned the meeting, citing Russia's ongoing war in Ukraine and the immense suffering it has caused.
- Metropolitan Tikhon of the Orthodox Church in America clarified that Archbishop Alexei's meeting with Putin was undertaken on his own initiative and was not authorized by the Holy Synod.
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